Condensate drainer

ABSTRACT

A steam trap for collecting condensate from a steam line comprising a housing having an internal conduit system which includes a glass cylindrical structure connected across a lateral passage through said housing which allows for viewing of the liquid level or condensate level within the steam trap. A strainer is included in the device to filter out impurities within the condensate. An adjustable valve is provided to regulate the flow of condensate therethrough.

United States Patent 11 1 Breece July 8, 1975 CONDENSATE DRAINER 2,388,432 11/1945 Nelson 137/559 2,570,322 l0 l95l Ch t h I37 559 [76] Inventor: George E. Breece, I390 S. Ocean I 0p er B|vd., Pompano Beach, Ma 33062 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany [21] 359,908 Primary ExaminerAlan Cohan [52] US. Cl. 5. 137/171; 137/549; 137/559; 57] ABSTRACT 137,203 A steam trap for collecting condensate from a steam [51] Int. Cl. Fl6t 1/34 c m h Si a t I d 58 Field of Search 137/203, 204, 194, 183, me P 'P f system which Includes a glass cyllndrlcal structure 137/192, 559, 17!, 549

connected across a lateral passage through sald hous- [56] Reerences Cited mg Wl'llCh allows for vlewmg of the l|qu1d level orcondensate level within the steam trap. A strainer 1s 1n- UNITED STATES PATENTS cluded in the device to filter out impurities within the 629,845 8/[899 Brown l37/204 ondensate, An adjustable valve is provided to regu- 1,10s,475 8/1914 Poindexter 137/204 late the fl f condensate therethmugh l,l57,583 l0/l9l5 Roschanek..... 137/[83 X l,350,385 8/1920 Peterson 137/559 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures OUTLET INLET Hi now/l I H x K FLO 42 2a- 62 30 so? I I2 l6 sa 0 7 34 3a 30 32 DATENTFDJUL 8 I971] SHEET 2 FIG. 2 '8 INLET FLOW Mirr: "rr JUL :1 ms

SHEET CONDENSATE DRAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to condensate drainers, and in particular to a steam trap and condensate drainer having an internal strainer and an internal means for visually observing the actual level of liquid condensate within the device at all times. For proper operation of a condensate drainer or steam trap, it is essential that the level of condensate within the device be regulated properly. In the past, several condensate devices have had no means of determining the liquid level in the condensate drainer or have had exteriorly mounted gages which give some indication as to the internal condition of the conduit path of the condensate, however, these external gages have been unreliable and are subject to error due to clogging or changes in the system which do not compensate for the external gage.

Applicants invention eliminates this problem by providing a steam trap or condensate drainer which incorporates the liquid level gage as part of the internal conduit of the housing itself. This is accomplished by inserting a glass or translucent cylindrical sleeve portion within a portion of the housing a lateral passageway therethrough. The glass inserted cylinder thus allows for the actual fluid level to be observed visually during the operation of the condensate drainer without interfering with its operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A condensate drainer comprising a housing, said housing having an inlet receiving chamber and an outlet chamber, said housing having a first vertical passage opening into said inlet chamber and disposed beneath it, a translucent conduit connected in communication with said housing first passage, a strainer chamber disposed in the axial line of said first passage, said translucent conduit coupled in communication with said first vertical passage at one end, a strainer disposed within said strainer passage, said housing including a crossover passage in communication with said strainer chamber disposed horizontally of said housing, said housing having a vertical passage coupled into said horizontal cross-over passage at its lower end, said vertical passage at its upper end connected into said outlet flow chamber, adjustable valve means coupled between said outlet flow chamber and said vertical passage for regulating the flow of condensate therethrough. Disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said translucent cylinder, laterally through the housing, is a large passage which allows observation of the translucent cylinder from either side of the housing. The translucent cylinder is constructed of glass and is sealed in a fluid-tight manner within the housing by compression loading on gaskets, the top gasket being recessed in the body so that no wear by steam draining can occur.

Stream is forced under pressure into the inlet chamber where it strikes the chamber walls and begins condensing into large droplets. Through the action of steam pressure and gravity, the condensate is forced through the housing first passage, through the translucent cylinder, and is received into the strainer chamber at the bottom of the housing. Impurities are trapped by a strainer. The condensate then flows through the cross-over passage and is forced up into the housing vertical chamber and then out through the outlet flow chamber. An adjustable valve allows for the regulation of flow of the condensate through the outlet chamber. The condensate level in the housing may then be visually observed as to its upper level through the translucent cylinder. The strainer is removable through a plug in the base of the housing.

Thus, through utilization of Applicant's condensate drainer and strainer, the operator may visually observe and maintain the correct level of condensate within the inner housing at a predetermined level by the regulation of the flow valve.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved condensate drainer having a visual liquid level gage disposed internally thereof which can be viewed from either side of the pipe line.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a condensate drainer of improved operation having a fluid-sealed glass conduit disposed within the housing providing a visual condensate level gage.

And yet still another object of this invention is to provide a steam trap having a housing with a glass conduit portion disposed internally of the housing forming a part of the condensate drainer itself.

And still yet another object of this invention is to provide a condensate drainer having a translucent conduit portion disposed within the condensate conduit drainer housing.

In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of Applicants invention.

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view in elevation of Applicants invention.

FIG. 3 is a planar cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1 of Applicants invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in cross-section of a portion of Applicants invention including the cylindrical translucent conduit and the surrounding housing including a strainer and plug.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and especially FIG. 1, Applicant's device is shown generally at 10 comprising a solid unitary housing 12 having a laterally disposed aperature 14 cut therethrough. Also visible within the housing aperature I4 is translucent cylindrical conduit 16 which is coupled at each end within the housing conduit system. An adjustable valve 22 is shown mounted on the top of housing 12 with a threaded portion 64 engaged by nut 24 in a sealed valve housing 20 having stem 18 protruding therethrough. The plug 34 is threadably engaged in the bottom of the housing for removal of a strainer 30 located inside the housing conduit system.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the condensate conduit within housing 12 is shown. An inlet flow of steam is received into chamber 26 disposed in the upper portion of the housing 12. Vertical passage 28 opens into the bottom surface of receiving chamber 26.

Vertically disposed glass cylinder I6 is connected within the housing in a fluid-sealed manner about an annular flange at the bottom opening of passage 28 and is concentrically disposed thereabout at its upper end.

The housing has vertical cylindrical chambers 58 and 60 which receive and hold the lower and upper por tions of cylinder 16 firmly in place. The lower face of chamber 58 opens into strainer chamber 32. Plug 34 has a plurality of apertures disposed annularly about the circumference to allow condensate to flow down through the glass cylinder 16 into the strainer 30 where it is expelled out through the plug housing 34 and into a strainer chamber 32. The housing 12 has a cross-over passage 36 connected at one end into chamber 32 and terminating at its other end with a plug 38. Rising vertically and opening into passage 36 is a vertical cylindrical channel 40. A valve seat 42 is coupled across the upper end of channel 40. A valve 22 is engaged to the top upper portion of housing 12 and has retained therein a valve stem 18 and a threaded housing 64 which allows for vertical adjustments in movement of the valve face 62 within valve seat 42. Valve stem housing 64 is tightened by nut 24 which is sealed between the housing and the nut 24 by annular resilient seal 46. The valve cap housing 20 is threadably coupled to the upper portion of the stern housing 64 and has a seal 66. The valve seat channel 42 opens into a discharge chamber 44 which allows the condensate to flow out of the housing. Both the inlet chamber 26 and the outlet chamber 44 have threaded portions for connecting to appropriate inlet and outlet conduit lines.

The housing 12 has a large horizontal passage 14 disposed completely through the body of the housing from the front vertical face to the back vertical face, the passage 14 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of glass cylinder conduit 16. This allows for visually viewing the condensate level within the cylinder from either face of the housing, front or back.

FIG. 4 shows the glass cylindrical conduit 16 joined in a sealed relationship to housing 12 and connected between the flange end portion 50 of path 28 and the housing wall 60. Thus the glass translucent cylinder 16, forming a part of the condensate conduit system within the housing serves also as a liquid level gage and may be observed from either face through passage 14 of housing 12. The bottom portion of vertical passage 28 has an annular protruding flange 50. concentrically disposed in contact with the outer edge of the flange is an annular seal 48 which contacts the upper inside portion of glass cylinder 16 thereby providing a fluid seal between the housing and the glass cylinder. The bottom of the glass cylinder 16 has a second annular seal 52 coupled to the inside surface of the cylinder 16. A structural metal ring 54 is coupled concentrically within the seal 52 to provide rigidity for holding the glass cylinder in place as it contacts the upper edge of strainer 30. The strainer is received within a hollow portion of the threaded tap 34 and is held in position by the seal 52 and metal support ring 54 connected to the cylinder 16. The tap body 34 has a plurality of apertures 56 disposed circumferentially, projecting radially to allow condensate which is received into the strainer 30 to flow out into chamber 32 which is cylindrical in shape and thus into the cross-over passage 36. A tap seal 68 is provided at the innermost end of the tap body.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship in housing 12 of glass cylinder 16 observable through passage 14 and vertical passage 40.

in operation, steam condensate is received into chamber 26 (FIG. 2) where the steam striking the walls of the chamber is diverted. Condensate (by pressure and gravity) flows down through vertical passage 28 and vertically disposed glass conduit 16 into the strainer 30 where impurities are collected. Condensate then flows into cross-over passage 36 and is forced back up to vertical chamber 40 where the valve 24 regulates the amount of condensate that is received into the discharge chamber 44. The level of condensate maintained within the conduit system may be visually observed through the glass conduit 16 and thus manually regulated by adjusting the condensate flow through the valve 22.

The strainer is removable by disengaging tap 34 which allows for the strainer to be cleaned when necessary.

Thus, Applicants steam drainer provides a condensate drainer and strainer having an internally disposed liquid level gage which forms part of the conduit system through the drainer showing the actual water level at all times with the drainer. A valve allows for the adjustment of the water level and the condensate flow. Applicants steam trap eliminates the need for externally mounted gages of various types which increase the complexity of the design and reduce reliability while having now moving parts but adaptable for a wide range of pressures and flow by simple orifice adjustment.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. A condensate drainer in which the internal level of the condensate may be visually determined and is manually maintained comprising:

a housing of unitary construction, said housing having a steam inlet condensate chamber, and a condensate outlet chamber, a vertical passage in communication with said inlet chamber, said vertical passage opening at its upper end into said inlet chamber, a vertically disposed cylindrical chamber coupled at the bottom in communication with said vertical passage having an enlarged radius the inside surface of which is disposed concentrically outside of said vertical passage end, said housing having a lateral passage disposed therethrough, the lower edge of said vertical cylindrical passage opening into said housing lateral passage, a second vertical passage axially in line with said first vertical passage opening into the diametrically opposite side of said housing lateral passage, a strainer chamber in communication with said second vertical passage, a cross-over conduit, a third vertical passage, said cross-over conduit connecting said strainer chamber with said third vertical conduit; and

a tubular glass conduit connected into said housing upper end into the first vertical passage in a fluidsealed manner having its lower end received into said strainer chamber with portion of said glass cylinder conduit in contact with said second vertical chamber whereby a portion of said glass conduit disposed within said housing lateral passage is observable from said front face and said rear face of said housing;

communication between third vertical chamber and said outlet chamber to a closed position stopping fluid communication between said third vertical chamber and said outlet chamber. 

1. A condensate drainer in which the internal level of the condensate may be visually determined and is manually maintained comprising: a housing of unitary construction, said housing having a steam inlet condensate chamber, and a condensate outlet chamber, a vertical passage in communication with said inlet chamber, said vertical passage opening at its upper end into said inlet chamber, a vertically disposed cylindrical chamber coupled at the bottom in communication with said vertical passage having an enlarged radius the inside surface of which is disposed concentrically outside of said vertical passage end, said housing having a lateral passage disposed therethrough, the lower edge of said vertical cylindrical passage opening into said housing lateral passage, a second vertical passage axially in line with said first vertical passage opening into the diametrically opposite side of said housing lateral passage, a strainer chamber in communication with said second vertical passage, a cross-over conduit, a third vertical passage, said cross-over conduit connecting said strainer chamber with said third vertical conduit; and a tubular glass conduit connected into said housing upper end into the first vertical passage in a fluid-sealed manner having its lower end received into said strainer chamber with portion of said glass cylinder conduit in contact with said second vertical chamber whereby a portion of said glass conduit disposed within said housing lateral passage is observable from said front face and said rear face of said housing; a threaded plug coupled into said straining chamber; a strainer disposed within said strainer chamber, held in position by said plug; an adjustable valve means separating said third vertical chamber from said outlet flow chamber, said valve movable from an open position allowing for communication between third vertical chamber and said outlet chamber to a closed position stopping fluid communication between said third vertical chamber and said outlet chamber. 